08-11-2022, 12:21 AM
TEST OF KORG PA5X 76 - PART 2; TESTING X-FADER
PREFACE
This is being launched as something completely new, but I feel sure I've seen something similar before - on OASYS, Kronos and the Nautilus.
All of these 3 models use more tracks than normal that contain both drums and bass, and these often have widely different rhythm patterns, which in addition can be highly syncopated.
Syncopes are just one key word to understand how complex this is; a really good drummer uses syncopes effectively, which places similar demands on the band's other musicians, and it takes very little to get them out of touch with each other.
Korg's top synths uses short syncopated rhythm patterns that are mixed together, which is quite similar to what we see on Pa5X, but with the difference that on Pa5X there are systematized patterns in terms of styles and their more bounded structure.
I have experienced many times that the rhythm pattern has crashed on both OASYS, Kronos and Nautilus when I have played progressive - everything get out of step.
2 STYLES AT THE SAME TIME - X-FADER
As far as I can figure out, it's impossible to stop both players by e.g. pressing ending.
Doing so all videos show; pressing stop, results in only one style stopping, and the same thing happens if you press ending instead.
I have tried to hold down Shift while pressing stop or ending - but then a menu called Fill Mode opens.
Maybe this is mentioned in the manual somewhere, but I can't find anything.
The only option that works for both styles is Fade - then both stop.
Everything indicates that this is a bug, which incidentally should be easy to fix.
Otherwise, I would argue that the synchronization of 2 styles is working properly.
It is important that both styles have the same tempo (use Tempo Lock).
Mixing a 3/4 with a 2/4 is perfectly straightforward - problems only arise when a style has e.g. 5/4 or 6/8 somewhere inside the style, which is expected - this is due to the beat structure of the music.
I have created many styles from midi that have not worked fully due to mixed beat structure.
Pa5X should not be blamed for this happening, and anyone who knows the basics of music theory should understand and accept this.
1 STYLE AND 1 VOCAL TRACK TOGETHER
As mentioned earlier, I was particularly anticipative of this feature.
The first thing I had to do was try to find Vocal Tracks online, which was easy.
But it immediately turned out that all of them were of such miserable quality that they could not be used.
Consequently, I had to try to find a program to make them myself.
I tested several applications that required installation, as well as several online solutions - all but one online application were useless.
The online program modernMT Vocal Remover turned out to be as good as the highest rated, but is free.
The only limitation is the number of splits over a period of time, and it can save the file as either Mp3 (256kb/s) or Wave. In addition, it has several other useful features such as Key/BPM Finder plus other.
Finally, the file should be clean-cut for empty batches, which can be done with the free program Wave Editor.
It's also important to be aware that different singers have their way of using their voice that can confuse Pa5X's AI (artificial intelligence) circuitry - the way they bend the notes as well as the chords that are expected to be added can quickly cause problems with transpose along the way.
When a Vocal Track has finished processing as MP3, it can be loaded into player 2.
The first ones I made worked badly because they were too complex.
I've created and tested 10 less complex Vocal Tracks, and most of them work beyond all expectations.
I thought at first they all had to be made in C Major/Minor, but that's not the case - what's important is that you start in the same key that the song has.
There are tremendous variations of what is possible with a Vocal Track, and some can be played almost completely freely - the song follows your chords.
Ending a style with Vocal Track meets the same challenge as 2 styles - it doesn't work.
But I have absolutely no problem authenticating the feature, because it is very easy to start and stop player 2 along the way.
This is one of the biggest advances in keyboards ever, and I can guarantee you that I am wildly excited - I'm going to be using this feature A LOT in the future.
Well done, Korg!
CONCLUSION - after 4 days of testing:
After testing Pa5X's ability to play Vocal Tracks along with a style for 4 days, I am more and more impressed by this feature's flexibility.
Pa5X's built-in artificial intelligence works far better than I expected - some Vocal Tracks can even be forced to play at any key and tempo without anything crashing.
A Vocal Track I played for about 30 minutes consecutively, and changed style, genre and tempo while playing - without anything going wrong - the Vocal Track changed key and tempo according to the style.
I will make a demo when I have received my new audio interface.
It is recommended to try different Vocal Tracks, because there is a huge difference in how these can be played in terms of key and tempo.
This is the most inspiring feature I've ever tried on an arranger - it gives a lot of the same freedom and enjoyment of playing as the best combinations do with Kronos.
PREFACE
This is being launched as something completely new, but I feel sure I've seen something similar before - on OASYS, Kronos and the Nautilus.
All of these 3 models use more tracks than normal that contain both drums and bass, and these often have widely different rhythm patterns, which in addition can be highly syncopated.
Syncopes are just one key word to understand how complex this is; a really good drummer uses syncopes effectively, which places similar demands on the band's other musicians, and it takes very little to get them out of touch with each other.
Korg's top synths uses short syncopated rhythm patterns that are mixed together, which is quite similar to what we see on Pa5X, but with the difference that on Pa5X there are systematized patterns in terms of styles and their more bounded structure.
I have experienced many times that the rhythm pattern has crashed on both OASYS, Kronos and Nautilus when I have played progressive - everything get out of step.
2 STYLES AT THE SAME TIME - X-FADER
As far as I can figure out, it's impossible to stop both players by e.g. pressing ending.
Doing so all videos show; pressing stop, results in only one style stopping, and the same thing happens if you press ending instead.
I have tried to hold down Shift while pressing stop or ending - but then a menu called Fill Mode opens.
Maybe this is mentioned in the manual somewhere, but I can't find anything.
The only option that works for both styles is Fade - then both stop.
Everything indicates that this is a bug, which incidentally should be easy to fix.
Otherwise, I would argue that the synchronization of 2 styles is working properly.
It is important that both styles have the same tempo (use Tempo Lock).
Mixing a 3/4 with a 2/4 is perfectly straightforward - problems only arise when a style has e.g. 5/4 or 6/8 somewhere inside the style, which is expected - this is due to the beat structure of the music.
I have created many styles from midi that have not worked fully due to mixed beat structure.
Pa5X should not be blamed for this happening, and anyone who knows the basics of music theory should understand and accept this.
1 STYLE AND 1 VOCAL TRACK TOGETHER
As mentioned earlier, I was particularly anticipative of this feature.
The first thing I had to do was try to find Vocal Tracks online, which was easy.
But it immediately turned out that all of them were of such miserable quality that they could not be used.
Consequently, I had to try to find a program to make them myself.
I tested several applications that required installation, as well as several online solutions - all but one online application were useless.
The online program modernMT Vocal Remover turned out to be as good as the highest rated, but is free.
The only limitation is the number of splits over a period of time, and it can save the file as either Mp3 (256kb/s) or Wave. In addition, it has several other useful features such as Key/BPM Finder plus other.
Finally, the file should be clean-cut for empty batches, which can be done with the free program Wave Editor.
It's also important to be aware that different singers have their way of using their voice that can confuse Pa5X's AI (artificial intelligence) circuitry - the way they bend the notes as well as the chords that are expected to be added can quickly cause problems with transpose along the way.
When a Vocal Track has finished processing as MP3, it can be loaded into player 2.
The first ones I made worked badly because they were too complex.
I've created and tested 10 less complex Vocal Tracks, and most of them work beyond all expectations.
I thought at first they all had to be made in C Major/Minor, but that's not the case - what's important is that you start in the same key that the song has.
There are tremendous variations of what is possible with a Vocal Track, and some can be played almost completely freely - the song follows your chords.
Ending a style with Vocal Track meets the same challenge as 2 styles - it doesn't work.
But I have absolutely no problem authenticating the feature, because it is very easy to start and stop player 2 along the way.
This is one of the biggest advances in keyboards ever, and I can guarantee you that I am wildly excited - I'm going to be using this feature A LOT in the future.
Well done, Korg!
CONCLUSION - after 4 days of testing:
After testing Pa5X's ability to play Vocal Tracks along with a style for 4 days, I am more and more impressed by this feature's flexibility.
Pa5X's built-in artificial intelligence works far better than I expected - some Vocal Tracks can even be forced to play at any key and tempo without anything crashing.
A Vocal Track I played for about 30 minutes consecutively, and changed style, genre and tempo while playing - without anything going wrong - the Vocal Track changed key and tempo according to the style.
I will make a demo when I have received my new audio interface.
It is recommended to try different Vocal Tracks, because there is a huge difference in how these can be played in terms of key and tempo.
This is the most inspiring feature I've ever tried on an arranger - it gives a lot of the same freedom and enjoyment of playing as the best combinations do with Kronos.